Why ZKP, HBAR, XLM, KAS, PENGU, and SHIB Are 2026’s Big ROI Bets

Disclaimer: The below article is sponsored, and the views in it do not represent those of ZyCrypto. Readers should conduct independent research before taking any actions related to the project mentioned in this piece. This article should not be regarded as investment advice.

If you’re trying to find the top crypto projects under $1 that still have serious upside, you’re not too late, but the window is narrowing fast.

Some of the biggest potential returns in 2026 are still tied to coins trading below $1. While the rest of the market is chasing headlines, sharp traders are positioning into early-phase projects with structure, live traction, and controlled scarcity. These aren’t the usual “cheap coins” that never move. These are tokens with compressed value waiting for the market to catch up.

From fully running networks with 10,000x upside to institutional-grade platforms and meme-fueled moonshots, here are six sub-$1 crypto plays still on the board.

Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP): Sub-$1 With a $1.7B Target and 10,000x Design

This isn’t a promise. It’s already running. Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is changing what a presale can be. Instead of raising money and building later, it launched a 450-day public auction with all infrastructure already live. The four-layer chain is operational. The auction is daily. And the burn mechanics are active.

What makes this one of the top crypto projects today isn’t just the design. It’s the lack of VC interference. No seed discounts. No private rounds. Just a flat $50K-per-day cap and price recalibrated every 24 hours.

ZKP is built for AI processing, zero-knowledge proofs, decentralized storage, and on-chain validation. Its Proof Pods, worth $17M, act as self-funded insurance to keep the network online even during systemic failures. That level of prep before listings begin is rare.

With token price still well under $1, the ROI window is enormous. Analysts model outcomes from 300x to 10,000x depending on timing and adoption. If you’re looking for sub-$1 exposure without the usual retail disadvantage, Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is your first stop.

Hedera (HBAR): Enterprise-Grade, Still Underpriced

Hedera continues to stand out for those seeking under-$1 projects with real-world utility. At around $0.13, it’s being adopted by major enterprises for supply chain, identity, and data tokenization. Its governing council features some of the biggest corporate names in fintech.

It’s not designed for overnight hype, but for sustainable growth. And in a market still figuring out how blockchain fits into enterprise frameworks, HBAR is already being implemented.

If your portfolio needs exposure to real adoption without the noise, Hedera is one of the more resilient top crypto projects under $1.

Stellar (XLM): Cross-Border Utility That’s Still Growing

Stellar has long been a go-to network for fast, cheap global payments, and it’s still priced at around $0.24. What keeps XLM relevant isn’t just its speed or low fees; it’s the growing list of fintech and banking integrations it continues to pull in.

With policy momentum shifting toward regulated payment networks, Stellar could benefit from a compliance-first approach to adoption. It’s not a flashy bet, but it’s a fundamentally strong one.

If you’re hunting for sub-$1 coins that could be front-runners in crypto payments, Stellar is a top crypto project to keep on your radar.

Kaspa (KAS): Technical Firepower Under the Radar

Kaspa brings something few others can: a high-performance proof-of-work network with blockDAG architecture that rivals the speed of L1s while keeping Bitcoin-style security assumptions.

Trading under $0.05 to $0.08, Kaspa is positioned as a technical outlier with serious upside if the BlockDAG narrative gains steam. It’s already running at scale with high-speed confirmation, low latency, and a growing dev base.

KAS is gaining traction among performance-focused traders looking for scalable infrastructure.

Pudgy Penguins (PENGU): The Meme Brand That’s Building a Culture

This isn’t your average meme coin. Tied to the well-known NFT brand, Pudgy Penguins has actual cultural equity in the space. PENGU, its token, trades well under $1 and is driven by community momentum and brand expansion.

While fundamentals take a backseat to sentiment, this project has something most meme coins don’t: consistent visibility and brand power. If PENGU breaks out again, it will be because of traction, not just timing.

Risk is high, but for speculators willing to bet on virality, PENGU is a top crypto project in the meme-driven playbook.

Shiba Inu (SHIB): The Meme That Refuses to Die

SHIB remains one of the most liquid meme tokens in the space and still trades far under $1. With the launch of Shibarium, a Layer-2 chain built for low-cost transactions, SHIB now has more utility than most people realize.

It also has a massive community. That matters, especially in cycles where retail energy can pump liquidity quickly. For those who believe the next meme wave is coming, SHIB is likely to be part of it.

It’s not the next Bitcoin, but it might just be the next big move, again.

Price Isn’t the Signal. Structure Is.

Not all sub-$1 tokens are built to rise. Some are cheap because they’re failing. Others, like ZKP, are cheap by design, using structure and scarcity to create asymmetry.

When scanning the top crypto projects under $1, the smart move is to look beyond the price tag. Focus on timing, access models, live infrastructure, and demand control. ZKP is doing all of this right now. Others, like Kaspa and Hedera, bring long-term potential. And yes, even meme plays like SHIB and PENGU have their moment, if you’re on time.

These aren’t coins to chase after they pump. They’re projects to position into before the rest of the market catches on.

_{Disclaimer: This is a sponsored article, and views in it do not represent those of, nor should they be attributed to, ZyCrypto. Readers should conduct independent research before taking any actions related to the company, product, or project mentioned in this piece; nor can this article be regarded as investment advice. Please be aware that trading cryptocurrencies involves substantial risk as the volatility of the crypto market can lead to significant losses.}